NT NETWORK
CALANGUTE
Calangute villagers, on Sunday, during a special gram sabha, sought two months’ time to file suggestions and objections to the land use map. They cited that there are 13,000 people under the panchayat area and, therefore, they all need sufficient time to put forth their views on the land use map and the outline development plan (ODP).
Acting sarpanch Joseph Sequeira informed the gram sabha that the panchayat had formed a village committee comprising village expertise like architects, engineers, lawyers and other prominent persons, to draw up the Regional Plan 2021.
He said the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) should consider the committee’s views to prepare the Regional Plan 2021.
The panchayat has objected to the land use map citing various errors.
Sequeira informed the villagers that while roads, water bodies, fishermen’s ramp are not shown in the plan, some temporary structures have been shown.
The panchayat has won a case in the High Court to legalise 840 houses in the CRZ, the order of which was received this month.
The matter was in the court for 20 years. The villagers want the whole coastal belt declared as settlement zone and not some part as orchard which is shown in the land use map.
Member secretary Pandita, who was present for the special gram sabha, admitted that the plan has a lot of loopholes and many things are missing. It was informed that after the land use map is adopted, the ODP will be drawn, taking into account suggestions and objections of the people.
A local Antonio D’Souza brought to the notice of the member secretary that the land use map does not show internal roads, water bodies, comunidade land and that the NGPDA has not explained under which law the illegal houses will be legalised.
Anthony Menezes, ex-ZP member, sought to know from the member secretary, that on what basis fields can be changed into settlement zone.
Calangute comunidade attorney Anthony D’Souza said that the comunidade has given land for garbage treatment plant, sewage treatment plant and a sub-station.
However, he alleged that the government has still not paid for the land acquired for these projects.